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Instrument: ScaRaB
Instrument details
Acronym
ScaRaB
Full name
Scanner for Radiation Budget
Purpose
Earth radiation budget at Top Of Atmosphere (TOA)
Short description
4 channels, two broad-band, two narrow-band [see detailed characteristics below]
Background
Developed in the French Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique
Scanning Technique
Cross-track: 51 pixel/scan, swath 3300 km - Along-track: 1 scan / 6 s
Resolution
41 km IFOV
Coverage / Cycle
Depending on the platform orbit. Near-polar: near-global daily; low inclination: 2 to 6 times/day depending on latitude (best coverage at 15°N and 15°S)
Mass
40 kg
Power
42 W
Data Rate
3 kbps
Providing Agency
CNES
Instrument Maturity
Backed by strong heritage
Utilization Period:
1994 to 1996
Last update:
2021-06-17
Detailed characteristics
Channel
Spectral interval
Noise Equivalent Radiance
Absolute accuracy
SNR
Short-wave
0.2 - 4.0 µm
< 0.5 W m-2 sr-1
.......... W m-2 sr-1
850
Total radiance
0.2 - 50 µm
< 0.5 W m-2 sr-1
.......... W m-2 sr-1
1000
VIS
0.55 - 0.65 µm
< 1.0 W m-2 sr-1
.......... W m-2 sr-1
120
TIR
10.5 - 12.5 µm
< 0.5 W m-2 sr-1
.......... W m-2 sr-1
60
Satellites this instrument is flying on
Note: a red tag indicates satellites no longer operational, a
green tag indicates operational satellites, a blue tag indicates
future satellites
Instrument classification
Earth observation instrument Passive optical radiometer or spectrometer Broadband Earth radiation radiometer
WIGOS Subcomponents
Subcomponent 1 Broadband radiometer (for ERB)
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives Upward long-wave irradiance at TOA Upward short-wave irradiance at TOA Show all Show fewer
Tentative Evaluation of Measurements
The following list indicates which measurements can typically be
retrieved from this category of instrument. To see a full Gap Analysis by Variable,
click on the respective variable.
Note: table can be sorted by clicking on the column headers
Variable Relevance for measuring this variable Operational limitations Explanation
Upward short-wave irradiance at TOA 2 - very high Information on BRDF needed. SW and Total (SW+LW) broadband channels, and supporting narrow-bandwidth channels for cloud detection
Upward long-wave irradiance at TOA 2 - very high No specific limitation. SW and Total (SW+LW) broadband channels with supporting narrow-bandwidth channel(s). LW computed as difference Total - SW